Auto inserting current date in Word .doc

[Davmeister]

I've currently got a header with the date in in my normal template for word.

It auto updates so that when I create a new document, it reflects the current date.

However, when that document is saved and opened again at a later date, the date will update to the date that it is being opened on, not the date it was created on.

How can I adjust the date header so that it reflects creation date as opposed to modified date?

Help would be appreciated from Office Word know it alls!

Many thanks

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Also, if there is no solution, can this be achieved in Pages? I'll be loathed to switch however...

[lpeedin]

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/wo...spx?section=13

[Davmeister]

Originally Posted by lpeedin

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/wo...spx?section=13

Thanks for this but it doesn't really help, does it?

From the link you gave:

However, if you only want to have the date the document was created in the header or footer, then just type the creation date in so that it's not updated by Word.

It therefore suggests that I have to type the date in, but I want it auto-inserted when I start the document...

Furthermore the support link you gave is in reference to the Windows version of Office, which has a different Header/Footer toolbar layout.

Thanks anyway

[Efrem]

You didn't say what version of Word you have. If you're using Word 2011:

Insert menu > Date and Time

Pick the format you like. Make sure the "Update Automatically" box at the bottom is not checked.

[Davmeister]

Originally Posted by Efrem

You didn't say what version of Word you have. If you're using Word 2011:

Insert menu > Date and Time

Pick the format you like. Make sure the "Update Automatically" box at the bottom is not checked.

Yes of course I am running the latest version, 2011.

This still does not rectify the problem. If I uncheck update automatically then all new documents will not update to reflect the current date when created. If I do, then they will update the creation date, but also every time I open the document in the future, which isn't what I want. So this doesn't help either.

[Efrem]

Now I understand. The problem is that, when you create what is (to you) a new document, Word doesn't modify the creation date in the template if you set it not to update automatically. You want it to update the first time, but never again after that.

As far as I know, Word won't do that. It either updates every time or not at all. If you don't want to enter the date manually, you can set the template to auto-update (check the "Update Automatically" box). Then, when you create a new document, select the date, go to Insert > Date and Time while it's selected, and uncheck the box. It will not update any more.

That said, I suspect that inserting it by hand is easier.

[Davmeister]

Originally Posted by Efrem

Now I understand. The problem is that, when you create what is (to you) a new document, Word doesn't modify the creation date in the template if you set it not to update automatically. You want it to update the first time, but never again after that.

As far as I know, Word won't do that. It either updates every time or not at all. If you don't want to enter the date manually, you can set the template to auto-update (check the "Update Automatically" box). Then, when you create a new document, select the date, go to Insert > Date and Time while it's selected, and uncheck the box. It will not update any more.

That said, I suspect that inserting it by hand is easier.

As I feared! I'm usually in a hurry at the start of a lecture to get the content down and am trying to make it as quick and easy as possible to do all the usual formatting e.g. today's date as I described. Manually written it is then. I can't imagine I'm the only one that wants the date the way I do though...many thanks anyway.

[dgarmaise]

My problem is that in one particular document I have, I WANT the date in the footer to be updated every time I open the document. I checked the automatic update box under Date and Time, but it does not work. The date does not update.